Hollywood rallies around Patrick Swayze as he vows to continue work during his cancer battle

Wednesday 5 March 2008 16:44 BST

Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze is facing the battle of his life after being diagnosed with one of the most deadly forms of cancer, but the determined star has bravely vowed to keep working during the battle.

His doctor last night confirmed the Dirty Dancing and Ghost star was being treated for pancreatic cancer, but denied claims that the 55-year-old had just five weeks left to live.

His spokesperson Annett Wolf said: "Patrick is continuing his normal schedule during this time, which includes working on upcoming projects."

Scroll down for more...

Report: A US magazine claims Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with cancer

The industry has rallied around him, with his former Red Dawn co-star Lea Thompson saying: "I've know him for so long, he's a great guy and I love him so much.

"He will be resilient – us dancers are tough!"

American cable channel A&E are considering commissioning a TV pilot, called The Beast, which stars the actor.

In a statement, to People magazine, the network said the show is "in contention to become one of the new drama series on the network."

"However, at this time all of our thoughts are solely with Patrick and his family. We are all wishing for a speedy recovery to a truly gifted actor."

Sufferers of pancreatic cancer typically have a survival rate of less than five per cent.

Leading man: The star in the 1987 hit Dirty Dancing

"Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far," Dr George Fisher said last night in a statement.

"All of the reports stating the timeframe of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue. We are considerably more optimistic."

"The outpouring of support and concern he has already received from the public is deeply appreciated by Patrick and his family."

An American magazine claimed the star was facing as little as five weeks to live in a report revealing he was battling the disease.

The cancer, which was diagnosed in January, has already spread to his other vital organs, said the National Enquirer.

For the past month, Swayze has undergone radical chemotherapy at Stanford University Medical Centre, a prestigious cancer hospital in California, according to the US reports.

Swayze and his 51-year-old wife Lisa Niemi, who both have pilot's licences, have been flying themselves to the centre for the past month where the actor has so far received several sessions of chemotherapy.

Starring role: Swayze with Demi Moore in the 1990 hit movie Ghost

The couple have made the trips at weekends in the hope that the treatments would remain secret.

"Patrick's family and friends are so grief-stricken they can barely contain their tears and anger," a source told the publication.

Mr Swayze is reported to have lost more than 20 pounds in the past few weeks and is restricted to a liquid diet because he has trouble keeping down solid food.

It is thought that Swayze first believed he had gastroenteritis, but then doctors discovered at the end of January he had pancreatic cancer that had already spread through his organs.

It is thought that he may have started showing symptoms of the illness as long ago as last Christmas when he was filming a pilot for TV series The Beast, in which he plays an FBI agent, in Chicago. It was the film that Swayze had hoped would mark his big showbusiness comeback.

"Patrick began spitting up blood and was taken to the hospital," said a source.

But it was not until late January that Swayze first went for a consultation at Stanford and shortly after he was diagnosed.

Last month it was reported in a New York newspaper that Swayze had undergone surgery at Stanford hospital for a serious "gastrointestinal procedure".

Afterwards, his spokesman confirmed that he checked out afterwards and was "home and happy".

But by that time, it has now emerged, Swayze already knew that he had cancer.

The actor has kept his cancer fight secret so that only a few close friends have known what he has been going through.

Swayze and his Texan actress wife of 32 years, Lisa, have a ranch in New Mexico and a home in Los Angeles Swayze's most recent film Christmas in Wonderland grossed a mere £40,000 when released on January 25.

Scroll down for more...

Patrick Swayze with his wife Lisa Niemi in Las Vegas in November last year

Swayze shot to fame with the 1987 hit Dirty Dancing and then became one of Hollywood's most famous leading men after starring in Ghost alongside Demi Moore in 1990.

Swayze was raised Roman Catholic but has also studied Buddhism and Scientology. He also believes in the healing power of crystals.

Patients diagnosed with the most common form of pancreatic cancer rarely survive. However there are other rarer forms which patients can recover from if it is detected early enough and they receive surgery straight away.

It is very difficult to diagnose this type of cancer as the pancreas is so deep within the body and symptoms vary depending on the exact location of the tumour.

It is mainly a disease which affects middle-aged and older patients. There are around 7,000 new cases in the UK each year.

Italian singer Luciano Pavarotti died in September last year at the age of 71 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Doctors told the tenor he had the disease in July 2006, five months after his last performance.

He underwent five bouts of chemotherapy before doctors told him there was nothing else they could do to cure him.